Richmond Station dates from the mid-19th century. It was last used by passengers in 1969 and then became a farm and garden centre which closed in 2001. Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust acquired the building in 2003. 

By providing activities and recreational spaces that met established local demands at affordable prices, the project secured the building’s future. The trust drew strong community support and in 2007 The Station opened. It offered residents and visitors a heritage room, exhibition spaces for local artists, cinema and restaurant, a conference/meeting room, six commercial workshop units and three office units. All were made fully accessible. A website was developed, sharing information about the restoration work and promoting the facilities.

A small team of five volunteers managed the project, and around 70 volunteers and others run the various facilities and activities on a day-to-day basis. 2000 local people were consulted throught the project’s lifespan. 40 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs were created and the station became a commercial asset for the town.

Station memorabilia and oral history recordings were collected and form part of the displays about the heritage of the building. Tours, school visits and outreach sessions enable people to learn about this history.

For more information, visit The Station website.